MORRISTOWN -- The Morris County freeholder board voted 4-3 late Monday to approve its portion of a settlement plan aimed at resuscitating a multimillion-dollar solar energy program in three counties -- Sussex, Morris and Somerset -- that ran aground less than a year after it was launched in 2011.

MORRISTOWN -- The Morris County freeholder board voted 4-3 late Monday to approve its portion of a settlement plan aimed at resuscitating a multimillion-dollar solar energy program in three counties -- Sussex, Morris and Somerset -- that ran aground less than a year after it was launched in 2011.

ROBBINSVILLE – A black bear management plan which calls for more time, in a bigger space and with additional methods of taking a bruin in New Jersey was approved this morning by the state's Fish and Game Council.

ROBBINSVILLE – A black bear management plan which calls for more time, in a bigger space and with additional methods of taking a bruin in New Jersey was approved this morning by the state's Fish and Game Council.

The U.S. Department of Justice says former CIA Director David Patraeus has agreed to plead guilty to mishandling classified materials.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus, whose once-bright political future was all but destroyed over an affair with his biographer, has agreed to plead guilty to charges he shared classified material with her for her book.

HOPATCONG — The impending wintry weather scheduled to hit the area tonight and continue through Thursday has forced the postponement of a candlelight memorial for Hopatcong High School senior Gregory Pellinger that had been planned for Wednesday evening.

HOPATCONG — The impending wintry weather scheduled to hit the area tonight and continue through Thursday has forced the postponement of a candlelight memorial for Hopatcong High School senior Gregory Pellinger that had been planned for Wednesday evening.

The 9,425 customers in Sussex County without electricity are asking when their power will be restored, but the answer from Jersey Central Power & Light is not what they want to hear.

The 9,425 customers in Sussex County without electricity are asking when their power will be restored, but the answer from Jersey Central Power & Light is not what they want to hear after 10 days in the dark.

SPARTA – Tim Huntzinger was comfortable at home, but increasingly concerned about the "giant oak tree" near his house as Hurricane Sandy moved closer on Monday.

"It looks like it's going to pull out of the ground," is how Huntzinger described the 40-foot tree.

"If (the wind) hits 60 miles per hour, that tree is coming down," added Huntzinger, who lives not far from Ross' Corner.

So Huntzinger drove to the county's Hurricane Sandy emergency shelter at Sussex County Technical School, which opened at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Classes at Sussex County Technical School, like all others in Sussex County today, were canceled through Tuesday.

Sussex County, though significantly impacted by Hurricane Sandy, was taking less of a hit than other places in New Jersey on Monday.

As of 3 p.m., only 13 people including an infant were staying at the shelter.

A second infant, brought to the shelter at around 7:30 a.m., had since been taken by an aunt, explained shelter manager Barbara Vanderbergh.

Vanderbergh said that most seeking refuge at the shelter were, like Huntzinger, concerned about a falling tree or other threat to their safety at home. That included a father and his two daughters in the cafeteria on Monday afternoon.

The shelter, though, can accommodate a much larger turnout.

More than 100 cots were available in the gym, which was reserved for rest and quiet, while others were free to move throughout the school.

Huntzinger, who was planning to ride out the storm at the school, brought along his Jack Russell dog, Roy.

Roy, who had another dog to play with at the animal-friendly shelter, is apparently a rather resilient dog.

"He's blind and deaf. He's 19 years old. He doesn't look it," Huntzinger said while relaxing in the school's cafeteria.

Karen Dashfield of Newton, director of Sussex County Animal Response Team, known as CART, was among those helping out at the shelter today.

"What we don't want," she said, "is people leaving a dog behind if the home is unsafe," she said.

Pet owners heading to the shelter should take food for their animal, along with a leash or crate.

Food at the shelter, as of mid-afternoon, was sparse, with mostly MREs, or "meals ready to eat," available. An unopened box of Cheerios was on a table, near four bagels, Philadelphia cream cheese and butter.

Vanderbergh said the shelter was expecting more food, noting that local restaurants and stores typically donate supplies.

Vanderbergh said she expected to be at the shelter for the duration of the storm. She said residents should avoid driving unless necessary, greeting a reporter with a playful admonition for being outside.

Red Cross volunteers ending a 12-hour shift at 8 a.m. Monday were replaced by those working another 12-hour shift.

Jack Cart of Sussex Borough, wrapping up his 12-hour shift at 8 a.m., said eight people, all from Newton, began arriving around 7:30 a.m. That group included the two infants.

As Cart spoke, one of the women, who identified herself as pregnant, walked into the lobby to ask a question of another Red Cross volunteer.

"It is a very fulfilling job," Cart, a retired 30-year park ranger and U.S. Army veteran, said of his Red Cross volunteerism.

His wife, Mary, a fellow Red Cross volunteer, was joining him at the shelter.

"I want to give back to my community," said Cart, who was planning to return at 8 tonight for another 12-hour shift.

Sussex County Emergency Management Coordinator Sheriff Michael Strada and County Administrator John Eskilson directed the shelter to open at 8 p.m. Sunday, hours before wind began escalating and conditions began to roughen for Sussex County residents.

Volunteers were holding a coordinating meeting at the 8 a.m. shift changeover on Monday. At that time, it had not begun to rain, though wind was starting to pick up.

Fred Spages of Newton, a retired electrical engineer, was joined at the shelter by his wife, Carole Lee, a nurse and fellow Red Cross volunteer.

He said his duties will include securing the shower area and making evacuees feel comfortable.